Snorri Sigfús
Birgisson:
Choral
Works
Male Voices:
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Two Songs for
Mixed Choir
were written
in 2005. They are dedicated to the composer's father, Birgir
Þórhallsson. The first song is an Icelandic
folk song (The Best Boy) and the second song (Roll
Call of the Elves) is based on several fragments from
Icelandic folk songs. The first performance was given by
Hamrahlíd Choir under the direction of Thorgerdur
Ingólfsdóttir at the Nordic Music Days in
Reykjavik in 2006.
Two Songs for
Choir - the
score
(pdf).
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Lullaby
(s.a.t.b.)
"Sleep Now My
Darling"
This song was
composed in 1982 for the Hamrahlíd Choir and
dedicated to Matthías Birgir Nardeau. The first
performance took place in July 1982. Hamrahlíd Choir
sang under the direction of Thorgerdur
Ingólfsdóttir.
The Icelandic
text is an
old nighttime prayer published in a collection of folk
poetry ("Fagrar heyrði ég raddirnar")
which was published in 1942 by Einar Ólafur
Sveinsson.
A recording of the song is available on a CD called
Icelandic Spring Poem (Smekkleysa: SMK
22).
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Fairy
Tale
"Ævintýri"
for mixed
choir was composed in 1983 and revised in 1985. The piece is
composed for and dedicated to Thorgerdur
Ingólfsdóttir and her choirs.
The piece is based on The Story of Prince Hlini
("Sagan af Hlini kóngssyni") and the text is
taken unaltered from Jón Árnason's
collection of Icelandic folk-tales ("Íslenskar
þjóðsögur og
ævintýri") published by
Bókaútgáfan Thjódsaga,
MCMLXI: Vol II., pages 412-414.
The piece is primarily homophonic. Two types of rhythmic
notation are used:
a) Traditional notation (quarter notes, eighth notes,
etc.)
b) Notation which does not show exact rhythms. In this case
the text is recited in a manner which imitates "normal" and
swift reading.
The density of the harmonic material ranges from being very
simple (one pitch in all voices) to very thick harmonies
(9-part). Most of the time the choir sings as a single
entity but sometimes it is divided into two choirs and
occasionally soloists from within the choir are heard.
Hamrahlíd Choir under the direction of Thorgerdur
Ingólfsdóttir premièred the piece on
July 2nd 1990.
The beginning of Fairy Tale ("Ævintýri"):
2
lines from the score
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Love Song
(s.a.t.b.)
("Amor")
This song was
composed in 1994 for Hamrahlíd Choir and dedicated to
Jóhann Már Nardeau. The icelandic
text is by
Páll Vídalín (1667-1727).
Hamrahlíd Choir under the direction of Thorgerdur
Ingólfsdóttir gave the first performance of
this song at a concert in the National Gallery of Iceland in
April 1996.
A recording of the song is available on a CD called
Icelandic Spring Poem (Smekkleysa: SMK 22).
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Die Heil'gen Drei
Könige aus Morgenland
(s.a.t.b.)
"Vitringarnir
frá Austurlöndum"
This song was
composed at the request of the Icelandic National
Broadcasting Service (RÚV) as "Christmas Song of the
Year 2000". It is dedicated to Thorgerdur
Ingólfsdóttir. Hamrahlíd Choir recorded
the song for RÚV.
The
Icelandic
text is a
translation by Helgi Hálfdanarson of a poem by
Heinrich Heine (1797-1856):
Die Heil'gen Drei Könige aus Morgenland,
Sie frugen in jedem Städtchen:
"Wo geht der Weg nach Bethlehem,
Ihr lieben Buben und Mädchen?"
Die Jungen und Alten, sie wußten es nicht,
Die Könige zogen weiter;
Sie folgten einem goldenen Stern,
Der leuchtete lieblich und heiter.
Der Stern blieb stehn über Josephs Haus,
Da sind sie hineingegangen;
Das Öchslein brüllte, das Kindlein schrie,
Die Heil'gen Drei Könige sangen.
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Songs of Tobbi
(s.a.t.b.)
"Tobbavísur"
This song was
composed for Hamrahlid Choir in 2001 and dedicated to
Ingimar Thórhallsson. Hamrahlíd Choir under
the direction of Thorgerdur Ingólfsdóttir gave
the first performance at a concert in the National Gallery
of Iceland in March 2002.
The Icelandic
text
(which is perhaps best classified as Nonsense Verse) is by
Æri Tobbi who lived in Iceland in the 17th
century.
Mp3-file
of Songs of Tobbi as it sounds when the computer
"sings" it. -
Songs
of Tobbi - the score
(pdf).
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Anthem
(s.a.t.b.)
"Lofgjörð"
This work was
composed in 2002 at the request of the Choir of the
Reykjavik Cathedral ("Dómkórinn") and its
conductor Marteinn H. Fridriksson. Dómkórinn
under the direction of Fridriksson gave the first
performance in the Reykjavik Cathedral on October 26th 2002.
The Icelandic
text is by
Hallgrímur Pétursson (1614-1674). It describes
various aspects of The Creation and urges men and women to
worship the Creator.
"Lofgjörð"
- score (pdf)
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When Angels Sing
(t.t.b.b.)
"Fagur er
söngur í
himnahöll"
This song was
composed in 2001 and revised a year later. The
Icelandic
text is an
old morning prayer.
When
Angels Sing - score (pdf).
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